Insect electrocutor



pt. 7, 1937. F. J. PM ET AL 2 092,

INSECT ELECTROCUTOR Filed July 12, 1933 1 ,Cl/ 77?/ lat/@655: 2e 27 26 Patented Sept. 7, 1937 PATENT OFFIQE INSECT ELECTROCUTOR Francis J. Plym and Walter Milligan,

Niles,

Mich, assignors to The Kawneer Company, Niles, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application July 12, 1933, Serial No. 680,057

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to insect electrocutors and more in particular to a novel construction of such an electrocutor or exterminator, and in the novel formation and manufacture of the lectrodes and conductors therefor.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel construction of insect electrocutor or exterminator provided with concentrically arranged electrodes or members formed with spaced conductors, the adjacent electrodes being of opposite polarity thereby setting up a spark gap or an electric field between the adjacent and opposed conductors, of such intensity as to electrocute or exterminate any insects passing into the field or spark gap, without the necessity of such insects coming into bodily contact with the conductors.

A further object is in the provision of a novel construction of concentric members provided with spaced conductors, and in the novel means and method of forming and connecting said members and conducting elements.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel construction of conductors or conducting elements having their lower ends hanging free. By freely suspending the lower ends, there is no danger of bridging across or causing a short between adjacent conductors by the electrocuted insects since such electrocuted insects fall freely and drop to the ground or floor. This form of construction has another distinct advantage in that it may operate during a rain since the water will flow freely down the conductors and there is no surface upon which the water can collect whereby to cause an arcing across the adjacent conductors. Since the conductors of opposite polarity are in substantially the same annular or concentric plane rather than in spaced concentric planes, larger insects are electrocuted thereby, since such insects in flying against or adjacent the conductors would necessarily close the gap and thus need not pass an outer series of electrodes before coming into the gap between opposed conductors.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel constructionof electrodes of opposed polarity and detachable conductors therefor and suspended therefrom, along with novel means for detachably or removably retaining the conductors in predetermined position. Thus a damaged conductor may be readily removed and replaced.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a novel construction of conductors in which two conductors of the same polarity are connected and mounted upon an electrode whereby the lower ends of said conductors are suspended and hang free. In the present embodiment, a pair of conductors are formed as a unit with the opposite ends hanging free and suspended from an electrode by an intermediate portion. 5

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of novel insulating means for spacing the electrodes and anchoring and maintaining them in predetermined spaced relation.

Another object is the provision of a novel 10 construction of dome from which the electrodes are carried or suspended, said dome forming a housing for a transformer and a covering for the electrodes.

Further objects are to provide a construction 15 of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, economy, and. ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will later more fully appear, and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is 25 susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other arrangements and details, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View taken part in side elevation 30 and part in vertical cross section through the insect electrocutor. 5

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the electrodes and conductors suspended therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the 35 under side of the outer electrode and showing the means of mounting the conductors thereon.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View in vertical cross section showing the means of mounting the electrodes and conductors upon the dome.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the construction and showing the spacing and mountingof the electrodes and conductors.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the insulators.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing, the numeral I refers to a hollow dome of sheet metal or the like, provided with a ring or hook 2 for hanging the electrocutor or exterminator in a position where it may attract and electrocute or exterminate insects or the like. A cord or cable 3 is provided at its one end with a plug 4 adapted to be connected to a lamp socket, wall or floor plug, or other source of electrical supply. This cable 3 leads to a 5 transformer 5 whereby the voltage may be increased to permit the electrocution or extermination of insects without the necessity of their coming in bodily contact with either of the electrodes or the conductors connected thereto.

The high tension voltage from the secondary of the transformer is led through cables or wires 6 and l to concentricelectrodes 8 and 9, respectively. These electrodes are suitably suspended and insulated from one another'by means of insulators ill. a slot or groove ll having an arcuate base l2 adapted to seat in one of a series of arcuate'cutout portions I3 in the electrodes. These insulators are adapted to receive and retain the electrodes 8 and 9 and suitably space and insulate them from each other. Any number and spacing of these insulators may. be provided. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, these insulators are,

mounted upon and suspended from a plate l4 by means of a boltl5-and nut l6. 7

The plate M is adapted to carry or provide a mounting for the transformer 5, the central-portion I! thereof being depressed and adapted to receive a socket I8 for the reception of a light bulb I 9, the purpose of which is to attract the insects to the electrocutor and towards the center thereof whereby they endeavor to pass through the conductors. The periphery of the plate M is provided with an annular, upwardly extending groove or channel 20 adapted to receive the lower edge 2! of the dome. Suitably spaced openings are" provided in the dome and the sides of the channel for the reception of rivets or other connecting means 22. Thus it will be seen that the dome I carries the plate member M- which in turn carries the electrodes, so that the entire construction may be suspended or hung from the Each of the electrodes 8 and 9 comprises an annular bar or ring formed with or having V- shaped depressions 23 and 24, respectively, in its under surface. Mounted in these depressions are conductors formed of a length of wire, rod or the like which is bent to provide a pair of spaced conductors. From the electrode 8 are suspended conductors 25 havingan upper or intermediate V-shaped connecting portion or loop 26 adapted to seat in one of the V-shaped depressions 23 in the electrode and be suspended therefrom by means of a catch or latch 21 rotatable upon a pivot 28, While from the electrode. 9. are suspended conductors 29 having inclined portions 30 merging in an upper or intermediate V-shaped connecting portion or loop- 3|, adapted to seat in one of the V-shaped depressions 24 and suspended therefrom by a catch or latch 32 rotatable upon a pivot 33. By reason of the inclined portions 30 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the opposed conductors are positioned in a concentric circle or plane. Thus the lower end of each conductor is freely suspended and the upper end of a conductor unit is detachably mounted upon and hung from the insulators and dome of the electrocutor.

By reason of the present construction of the electrodes the conductors thereon are all accurately spaced apart and maintained in such accurate relationship. This construction makes for cheapness in manufacture since each pair of electrodes is formed as a detachable unit, thereby eliminating the necessity of connecting each conductor in its proper spaced and generally fixed relationship. This spacing and its maintenance arepractically impossible where the Each insulator I is provided with conductors are made separate and it will be clearly evident that where high tensionvoltage is applied to the conductors, a slight inaccuracy in the spacing of the conductors will' permit bridging and arcing across between the conductors of opposite polarity. In the present form of conductors, the loops formed by the pairs of conductors extend in opposite directions. whereby to permit proper spacing of the conductors.

In the present novel construction, the plug 4 may be applied to any of the ordinary electrical outlets and the voltage stepped up by means of a transformer whereby a high tension voltage is applied to the electrodes 8 and 9. These electrodes are:so arranged that the conducting elements or members 25 and 29 thereof are in suitable spaced'relation with the conductors of the inner member in opposed relation with those of the outer member so that a gap of predetermined size is provided therebetween. Ordinarily no current is flowing or bridging between the opposed conductors but an electric field isset up. inthe vicinity thereof. V 1

At the instant that an insect comes within this field or in the gap between opposed conductors, there is an arcing across or a closing of a circuit between the conductors of opposed polarity-and. the insect'is immediately electrocuted. It is not necessary that the insect come in contact with either of these opposed electrodes but merely that its body come intermediate the same to thereby close the gap, so that there will be no clogging of the space therebetween.- Since the bottom of the electrocutor is open andthe ends of the conductors hang freely, there is nothing upon which the electrocuted insects might/collect and there is no possibility of such insects accumulating and bridging the gap and causing a short between the conductors of opposed polarity.

I In view of the fact that the charge is of high voltage and low amperage, there is no danger of injury to human beings; should they contact or bridge the electrodes. 1 I 1 Having thus disclosed the invention,

We claim: I

1. In an insect electrocutor, electrodes connected to the opposite sides of a' source of electricity, conducting units. comprising separate and conducting means suspended from said electrodes, said conducting means comprising spaced conductors, a V-shaped ofiset portion connect ing adjacent electrodes of the same polarity, and a V-shaped depressed portion for receiving said offset portion.

4. In an insect electrocutor, concentric electrodes therefor constructed as a band, depressions in said electrodes, conducting elements having a part adapted to seat in said depressions, and means for detachably locking said parts in said depressions.

5. In an'insect electrocutor, concentric elec trodes therefor constructed as a band, -V-Shaped depressions in said electrodes and the depressions in one electrode extending opposite to those in the other, and conducting means comprising adjacent conductors connected by a V-shaped portion, and means for detachably mounting and -retaining said V-shaped portions in said depresslons.

6. In an insect electrocutor, conducting means therefor constructed of a single length of metal shaped to provide a pair of spaced conductors in the form of vertically projecting rods mounted at their upper ends and having their lower ends free whereby, to permit the electrocuted insects to fall freely and prevent a clogging of the electrocutor.

'7. In an insect electrocutor, electrodes connected to the opposite sides of a source of electricity, conducting units therefor, each unit consisting of an integral length of wire formed to provide a pair of spaced conductors of the same polarity, and means for detachably mounting the units upon and freely suspending said units from the electrodes.

FRANCIS J. PLYM. WALTER MILLIGAN. 

